Key facts
- Heating oil prices are a significant issue in competitive US Senate races in Maine, New Hampshire, and Alaska.
- Nearly 80% of Americans blame Trump policies for higher costs, including energy, according to an October Reuters/Ipsos poll.
- In New Hampshire, 43% of residents use heating oil.
- In Alaska, about 30% of residents rely on heating oil.
- In Maine, 54% of homes use heating oil.
- Heating oil prices have climbed above $6 per gallon nationally.
High heating oil prices are emerging as a significant challenge for Republicans in key US Senate races as winter approaches, according to a Reuters report. Voters in northern states like New Hampshire, Maine, and Alaska, which rely heavily on heating oil, are expressing frustration over soaring costs, with some planning to vote for Democratic candidates. The rising prices are linked by Democrats to President Trump's policies and the disruption of global diesel supplies due to the conflict with Iran. The US Energy Department released heating oil from reserves in the Northeast, a move analysts believe is unlikely to significantly impact prices. In New Hampshire, where 43% of residents use heating oil, energy costs are a dominant concern for voters.